Marking devices



Oct. 10, 1961 s. N. ROSENTHAL 3,003,183

MARKING DEVICES Filed Aug. 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 INVENZiE Arromw-rs 3,003,183 MARKING DEVICES Sidney N. Rosenthal, Belle Harbor,N.Y., assignor to Speedry Chemical Products, Inc., Richmond Hill, NY.Filed Aug. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 833,260 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-566) The presentinvention relates to marking devices more particularly of a type whereindifferent applicator nibs and different ink supplying reservoirs orcarriers are removably assembled with a barrel or casing.

An object of the invention has been to provide a marker in whichexpendable nibs, as of felt or the like, and ink carriers can beemployed with a rugged and durable casing in a manner to minimizeleakage of ink and vapor as well as deterioration of the nib, both priorto and after the device is applied to its intended uses.

A further object of the invention has been to provide a marker whereinthe ink is supplied to the nib from a capsule or cartridge type ofcarrier which is conveniently stored and marketed with its contents insealed condition but which can be unsealed for use and, by means of avalve controlled discharge opening, can effectively protect the inkcontents of the cartridge from depletion or impairment by leakage orevaporation through said opening.

It is also an object of this invention to provide for quick and easyreplacement or substitution of nibs so that a worn nib may be replacedby a fresh one; or a nib having its constituent fibers covered with anink deposit of one color may be replaced by another if the device is tobe used in applying markings of a different color. Similarly, a spent pCE FIGURE 3 an exploded view of the component parts of the device shownin FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 a view in elevation of an ink carrying cart ridge as initiallysealed and indicating in dotted lines the removal of the sealing cap toexpose a portion of the spring pressed ball valve at the discharge endof said cartridge; and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section on the line 5--5 of FIGURE 2.

Referring to the drawings, a marker according to my invention and asthere shown includes a three part casing or barrel having a middleportion or section 10 and end portions 11 and 12. The end portion 11 isthreaded to engage the upper end (as seen in FIGURE 3) of the middleportion 10; and the other end portion 12 is threaded to engage the lowerend of said middle portion 10. The

' parts so assembled provide in effect a vapor and ink concartridge isreplaced by a fresh one, or a cartridge carrying one color or type ofink is readily replaced by another charged with a difierent color ortype of ink.

A marking device capableof affording the above and other advantages inmanufacture, merchandising and use includes in general a cartridgeorcarrier for free flowing ink provided at one end with a dischargeopening which is normally closed by a spring biased valve and which isinitially protected against accidental unseating or opening of saidvalve by a removable seal. Said cartridge with the seal removed, ismounted in a barrel or casing which also supports a nib holder in suchposition that the inner end of a suitably absorbent nib slidably mountedtherein comes opposite and unseats the valve when pressed inwardly, thusto release ink into the inner end of said nib. Means are provided forprotecting inner end portions of the nib from direct fiber compressingimpact with the valve so as to maintain optimum capillarity in the nib.Means are also provided for interposing a drag of frictional resistanceto wholly free endwise movement of the nib in the bore of the nib holdersuflicient to inhibit valve opening movement fining shell, casing orbarrel which houses an ink carrier and a nib and nib holder whenoperatively assembled in relation to the ink carrier.

A nib holder 13 is threaded at 14 to engage interior threads 15 in theupper end of middle section 10 of the barrel. As seen in FIGURE 2, saidnib holderis conveniently tubular in shape with its central bore open atboth ends and slightly tapering from its inner (lower FIGURE 2) endopening toward its outer end opening. A peripheral flange 16 is knurledto provide a finger grip by which to turn the holder 13 into and out ofbarrel engaging position. A gasket 17 of a plastic or other suitablematerial is arranged at the outer side of flangelfi and a similar gasket18 at the inner side of said flange 16. Thus, when the holder 13 isscrewed into place, gasket 18 is compressed between said flange 16 andthe outer (upper) end edge of the middle section 10. Also, when the endpiece 11 is screwed into place, gasket .17 is compressed between flange16 and an interior shoulder 19 of said end piece 11.

merely from normal or reasonable marking pressure in use whilepermitting valve opening movement when sulficient pressure for thatpurpose is applied through the nib. Said means may also serve to steadyand releasably retain the nib in its operative position. Means are alsoprovided for limiting the extent of valve opening movement of the nibwith minimum compressive effect on its fibrous absorbent structure.

One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the drawings appendedto this specification and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view on enlarged scale in central longitudinal section ofa lower portion of the barrel or casing and a part of the middle portionthereof with an ink carrying cartridge mounted therein and in itscondition prior to removal of the initially sealing end cap;

FIGURE 2, a view on enlarged scale in central longitudinal section of anupper portion of the barrel attached to the upper end of said middleportion and with a nib and nib holder in operative position;

A nib 20 of felt, or the like, and preferably rectangular in crosssection, is mounted to slide endwise in the bore of holder 13. Nib 20carries a foot or contact plate 21 having a portion which straddles orextends across a portion of the inner end surface of the nib leavingother portions thereof freely exposed to receive ink from the carrier.Said foot plate presents a flat hard surface for operating contact witha ball valve as hereinafter described.

A'lso, near said inner end of nib 20, are laterally projecting springarms 22 disposed at an angle to the nib axis and conveniently providedby the free end portions of a metal pin, or the like, which has anintermediate portion extending transversely through an inner end portionof said nib 20. Each of said arms 22 projects in a direction and to anextent to bring its bearing end beyond the inner end face of nib 20.Said nib is readily assembled for use in the bore of holder 13 byinserting its outer end into and through the inner end of said bore andthen pushing said nib to operative position approximately as seen inFIGURE 2 with the free ends of arms 22 hearing yieldingly against thesurface of said bore of holder 13 and thereby releasably retaining saidnib therein.

Ink issupplied to nib 20 from an ink carrier 23 which, when in conditionfor use, presents its outer (upper in FIGURE 2) end discharge opening 34in position opposite the inner end of nib 20. The ink carrier is, ingeneral a hollow cylinder of malleable metal, as aluminum, fitted with aspring pressed valve, as ball 24 of corrosion resistant material, whichseats in said discharge opening. When the parts are assembled incondition for use, a portion of said ball is exposed in position for asubstantially point contact with the opposed flat or plane surface offoot plate 21. With this arrangement, ink is released from the inkcarrier 23 into nib 20 by pressing the latter inwardly to a suflicientextent to unseat ball 24.

In its initial commercial form, or before being conditioned for use, thecarrier body 23, which includes at its outer end an outwardly protrudingball and spring housing or nipple 25, also has a sealing cap 26 integralwith said housing and which extends from and effectively covers said endopening and the ball valve'24. However, the wall of said carrier isweakened along a line, as 27 defining approximately the junction betweensaid housing 25 and sealing cap 26. As seen in FIGURES 1 and 4, cap 26is dislodged from sealing position by lateral pressure exerted againstan outer end portion thereof. The removal of cap 26 exposes theballvalve 24 for actuation by endwise inward pressure applied to and throughnib 20 and foot plate or contact clip 21 when the parts are assembled asseen in FIGURE 2.

The carrier or cartridge 23 receives a charge of ink through its openinner (lower FIGURE 1) end which is thereafter sealed by a press fitplug 28. A peripheral channel adjacent said inner open end of carrier 23provides an inwardly projecting shoulder or seat 29 to limit the extentof inward movement of plug 28. An outwardly exposed annular shoulder 30is also formed in the wall of carrier 23 in position to seat against acooperating shoulder 31 provided by the open end edge of portion 12 ofthe barrel.

The parts are so formed and dimensioned that the inner relativelyrestricted end of carrier 23 fits snugly into the open end of the lowerbarrel portion 12; and, in general, the remaining or outer end portionsof carrier 23 fit snugly in the bore of the middle section of thebarrel.

As seen in FIGURE 1, ball 24 is pressed into position to close thedischarge opening 34 in housing 25 by spring 32 which is seated againstan annular flange 33, conveniently formed, as by drawing or peening,between said housing 25 and the main body portion of carrier 23.

When the parts are assembled, as seen in FIGURE 2, a yielding gasket 35of felt, or the like, is positioned within barriel part 10 to embracehousing or nipple 25. The inner end of holder 13 bears against saidgasket 35 to provide a tight joint by which leakage through the threadedconnection 14-15 is obstructed. Said gasket also provides a stop orcushion to limit the extent of inward movement of nib 20 which occurswhen the inner or free ends of arms 22 come against the outwardlyexposed face of gasket 35. The parts are so arranged and proportionedthat arms 22 will engage gasket 35 only after nib 20 has been pressedinwardly far enough to unseat ball 24.

As seen in FIGURE 1, a gasket 36 of plastic or the like is provided atthe joint between barrel parts 10 and 12.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that an embodiment ofapplicants invention provides in portable form and size a practicalmarking tool or instrument which is capable of manufacture and marketingwith substantial economy; and which in use permits reliable andunimpaired performance even after extended periods of nonuse.

What I claim is:

A pen comprising a barrel, a fluid ink containing cartridge thereinhaving a nipple at one end containing a spring pressed ball valve, anannular resilient gasket surrounding said nipple, a nib holder threadedinto said barrel and engaging said gasket, a nib slidably mounted insaid holder, and a double spring arm means firmly secured to said niband whose spring arms frictionally grip the holder to secure the nibtherein, and whose ends move to and are stopped by the gasket as the nibapproaches the ball valve to open it an extent limited by the travel ofthe nib in the holder and of the arms to the gasket which resilientlystops the arms and the nib in such travel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS752,078 'Burt et a1 Feb. 16, 1904 1,523,332 Wright Jan. 13, 19251,670,458 Le Boeuf May 22, 1928 1,749,565 Coryell Mar. 4, 1930 1,857,467Marsh May 10, 1932 2,032,776 Van Ness Mar. 3, 1936 2,623,227 MoonertDec. 30, 1952 2,624,902 Soldner Jan. 13, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 563,226France Sept. 21, 1923 935,259 France Feb. 1, 1948 1,071,169 France Mar.3, 1954

